AK Party announces Kahraman as Parliament Speaker candidate again

İsmail Kahraman, the current Parliament speaker whose two-year term expired on Oct. 22, was announced yesterday as the candidate for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) once again.

The Republican People's Party (CHP) previously announced its nomination of İzmir Deputy Zekeriya Temizel for the Parliament speaker election and the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) nominated Hakkari Deputy Selma Irmak, who is currently in prison for affiliations with the PKK. The Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) candidate is Istanbul Deputy Celal Adan.

Candidates can apply until midnight Thursday, Nov. 16, and nominees are able to campaign until Nov. 17. The election results will be finalized on Nov. 21.

According to internal regulations, the election of the Parliament speaker is held regularly every two years. Under previous regulations, the first elected Parliament speaker served two years, and the second for three years, in compliance with the five years between general elections. However, considering the constitutional changes under the coming presidential system, the newly elected Parliament speaker will be assigned to the position for two years due to the reduction of the time between general elections to four years.